Waukesha County Still Struggling
with Library Standards
County officials have come up with an alternative plan for ensuring quality service in the 16-member Waukesha County (Wis.) Federated Library System without penalizing libraries with smaller staffs and collections. Administration Director Norman Cummings announced August 30 that County Executive Dan Finley would introduce the measure to the county board in an ordinance.
In July, Finley vetoed standards that set minimums for library staffing, hours, and collection sizes, calling them an “unfunded mandate.” Afterwards, municipal leaders urged Finley to come up with a compromise.
The alternative plan will consider the number of materials a library lends to residents of other communities as well as its own, and will require libraries to use a complicated formula for reaching a targeted level of library service. Those falling short of the target would have to work to resolve shortcomings and increase the number of library visitors.
However, Town of Delafield Chairman Paul Kanter said in the August 30 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he preferred Finley’s earlier suggestion of forming a county-run system.
Posted September 4, 2000.
|
